Theresa May has admitted in the Commons today that No Deal
May SHELVES third vote on her deal due to ‘lack of support’ – but vows to FIGHT rebel MPs’ plan to take control of Brexit tonight and says she could ignore their attempt to force a soft exit from the EU
Theresa May today shelved plans for a third vote on her Brexit deal, hours after a new push to force it through the Commons was quickly rebuffed by the DUP.
The Prime Minister addressed the Commons this afternoon and admitted ‘as things stand there is not sufficient support’ to hold a fresh vote on her deal, quashing speculation that it would happen tomorrow.
Now she faces a move by rebel MPs who want to pass a motion tonight to seize control of Brexit – giving them the power to hold a vote on Wednesday letting the Commons select its favorite Brexit option in so-called ‘indicative votes’.
The PM vowed to whip against the motion proposed by Remainer rebel MP Oliver Letwin and also said she could ignore MPs’ preferences if they try to force her to adopt a softer Brexit.ADVERTISING
But she offered to hold indicative votes on government time in an effort to head-off the rebellion – meaning the votes would do ahead but rebel MPs would not be in control of the process.
That tactic looked like it could work this evening, with lead plotter Nick Boles suggesting support was slipping away from his motion.
Mr May’s ministers have also again suggested that they could call a general election rather than be forced into a soft exit from the EU against their manifesto promises, despite a recent opinion poll suggesting just 12 per cent of the public back a new vote.
As it stands, Britain is due to leave the EU on May 22 if May’s Brexit deal passes a vote before Friday. She can still bring the vote back on Thursday, and will be hoping the prospect of a softer Brexit will bring Brexiteer MPs and the DUP onboard. If her deal is not passed before Friday, Britain is due to leave the EU on April 12.
But the Prime Minister today appeared to rule out a No Deal exit on April 12 by telling the Commons: ‘Unless this house agrees to it, No Deal will not happen.’
Tory MP Crispin Blunt then confronted Mrs May and said taking No Deal off the table was the ‘final torpedo’ to her deal and ‘the most shameful surrender of any British leader since Singapore in 1942’.
MPs have already voted to rule out No Deal under any circumstances and leaks from the Cabinet suggest that ministers are still threatening to call an election if MPs try to force a soft Brexit because that option would contradict their manifesto pledges.
Mrs May made the humbling admission about her vote being axed as she faced the Commons today hours before MPs are set to vote to start taking control away of Brexit from her in a series of indicative votes tonight.
She said: ‘It is with great regret that I have to conclude that as things stand there is still not sufficient support in the House to bring back the deal for a third meaningful vote. I continue to have discussions with colleagues to build support so that we can bring the vote forward this week and guarantee Brexit’.
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Theresa May has admitted in the Commons today that No Deal will not happen without Parliament saying so – but insists that her deal is the best deal even though she doesn’t have the support to bring it back for a third time
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO BREXIT THIS WEEK?
LIKELY TO HAPPEN TUESDAY: MAY CONTINUES HER BATTLE FOR SUPPORT FOR HER BREXIT DEAL
Tuesday had been touted as a possible day for the third coming of the meaningful vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal, following heavy defeats in January and just a fortnight ago. But the DUP, whose support is key if she has any chance of getting it through the Commons, kiboshed that idea earlier and she announced it would not happen tomorrow. With no sign that the Prime Minister is prepared to abandon the plan it means she is likely to spend the day trying to hammer out a deal with anyone receptive – if they exist.
LIKELY TO HAPPEN WEDNESDAY: MPs HOLD INDICATIVE VOTES
The Commons is set to vote tonight to let MPs take control of Brexit. They are likely to hold a series of indicative votes on Brexit alternatives this week, most likely on Wednesday. The alternatives include a softer Brexit, a second referendum or leaving with No Deal. If one commands a majority, MPs will try to pressure Theresa May into adopting that option. But there is no binding way of making her do so. If the Commons votes against taking control in tonight’s vote Mrs May said she will make Government time available for some similar votes – which could be on Wednesday. Though some MPs remain sceptical.
COULD STILL HAPPEN THURSDAY: MAY HOLDS A THIRD MEANINGFUL VOTE ON HER BREXIT DEAL
May is likely to try and pass her Brexit deal a third time, after the EU offered a Brexit date of 22 May if she does so this week. The Prime Minister will use threats that MPs will take control and force a softer Brexit in an attempt to force Brexiteer rebels to finally back her. She may also offer them a date when she will quit in return for their support. Thursday is the most likely day for her vote, but there is a chance she won’t hold it if she still does not believe she’ll win.
FRIDAY: MPs TAKE CONTROL?
If the PM loses a third vote on her deal, MPs and Remainer Cabinet ministers will try and force her towards a softer Brexit. Brexiteer MPs and Cabinet minister will conversely try and push her towards a No Deal exit from the EU. Minister have also claimed that they could call an election if MPs try to force them into a soft Brexit. How this pans out will depend on the result of the votes tonight and on Wednesday. Video playing bottom right…Click here to expand to full page
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Theresa May enters Parliament with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay ahead of her statement updating the Commons on her Brexit strategy. Michael Gove has denied he would want to take over from Mrs May before a cabinet meeting where she touted holding her vote again, which appeared to please Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom as she left 10 Downing Street
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These are the seven options for Brexit MPs could vote on this week if Mrs May is forced towards a softer Brexit
The seven options for Brexit Theresa May will present to MPs
The seven Brexit options MPs may get to choose from:
:: Theresa May’s Brexit deal – The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with Brussels that has already been rejected by MPs twice.
:: Revoke Article 50 – The cancellation of the UK’s notice to Brussels that it would leave the EU, which was given almost two years ago.
:: Second referendum – Another national poll of voters to check whether they still want to leave the EU.
:: The PM’s deal plus customs union – Labour’s Brexit plan, which would prevent Britain being able to strike its own trade deals.
:: The PM’s deal plus customs union plus single market – An even ‘softer’ Brexit plan, also known as ‘Common Market 2.0’ or ‘Norway Plus’, that would include keeping freedom of movement of people.
:: Free Trade Agreement – A trade deal between Great Britain and the EU, but excluding Northern Ireland, which would create a customs border in the Irish Sea.
:: No Deal – The country would leave the EU without striking an agreement with Brussels.
Speaker John Bercow this afternoon confirmed that he had chosen Sir Oliver’s amendment to go to a vote.
He also chose amendments tabled by Jeremy Corbyn, calling for indicative votes in Government time; and by Dame Margaret Beckett, which would seek to block a no-deal Brexit unless MPs vote for it.
Mrs May had earlier told the Commons that the Government will oppose Sir Oliver’s amendment tonight paving the way for indicative votes on Brexit on Wednesday. Despite May’s opposition, Letwin’s amendment is still likely to a pass after it was narrowly defeated by two votes last week.
The indicative votes will let MPs back a range of options including a softer Brexit, a second referendum and No Deal – but in practice the Commons is likely to back a softer Brexit.
After ruling out a third vote on her deal tomorrow, Theresa May told MPs she could not guarantee that she would commit to implementing anything they voted for in an indicative process because they could involve an ‘outcome that is un-negotiable with the EU’.
She added: ‘No government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is. So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House, but I do commit to engaging constructively with this process’.
The Prime Minister said the ‘default outcome’ remained leaving without a deal and said: ‘The alternative is to pursue a different form of Brexit or a second referendum.
‘But the bottom line remains: if the House does not approve the Withdrawal Agreement this week and is not prepared to countenance leaving without a deal, we would have to seek a longer extension.’
That would mean holding European elections and would mean ‘we will not have been able to guarantee Brexit’.
Setting out the choices facing MPs, Theresa May said: ‘Unless this House agrees to it, no-deal will not happen.
‘No Brexit must not happen. And a slow Brexit, which extends Article 50 beyond May 22, forces the British people to take part in European elections and gives up control of any of our borders, laws, money or trade is not a Brexit that will bring the British people together.’